#draglesque performer

[dragkingsrule]

Cismon Genderfck, Montreal-based drag artist/king/creature

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Artist links: Instagram

[carbonpressure]

I did Archivist Drag!

I’m a Drag King and TMA fan. Around the beginning of May this year (2024), I had the incredible pleasure of being able to perform a Drag(lesque) act as the Archivist. I truly love the podcast and the fandom around it, so I want to make my act as freely available as possible - by publicly posting the photos and video recording of it!

That said, this is a Draglesque act. It is not suited to audiences under 18. I’m putting all the links under the cut, so consider that “Keep reading” button your agreement that you are an adult age 18 or older.

There. Now that it’s just us grown-ups, here’s the main event:

Unfortunately, the video quality isn’t great (and they spelled my Drag name wrong! It’s Ferrous Fenix). Luckily, the detail lost in the video is picked up in the photos:

If you watched this, I genuinely hope you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to take a look at one of the most fun fan-creations I’ve ever made, and what is probably my best Drag act so far. If you decide you want to throw me a tip for it (which is by no means expected; I did this purely for the love of it) you’re welcome to do so here.

Finally, I want to give all the heaping credit they are due to my partner and Drag Dad, who is the one that got completely done up in Elias Bouchard cosplay just to make that 2-second cameo onstage. They’re an incredibly talented Drag King and cosplayer, and I wouldn’t be anywhere in either of those artistic worlds without them. Please check out their Instagram Drag and cosplay accounts; they put so much of themself into everything they do and they deserve to have more eyes on them… if you’ll pardon the expression 😉

And with that, I suppose… Statement ends.

[degenderates]

the things you put in ur burlesque insp tag always rly interests me. my concept of burlesque is only limited to very stereotypical portrayals of it but the thinggggs you tag are like opening up my mind like I want to know more about ur burlesque

thank you! i'm approaching one year of doing it (with a very amazing queer and body-diverse troupe) and didn't really know much about burlesque before, and i've only recently realized that my local scene is not the typical cultural association people have with "burlesque." the choreo we do has been pretty diverse; in group acts we've done classic burlesque, neo-burlesque, specific attitudes like a "trash animal" act where we were a cult of trash animals (eg. possum, squirrel, bear, raccoon, cat, etc.), other examples are a fruit basket (lol)--I was a lemon (lol), clowns, etc. it's always a lot of fun.

we have a lot of crossover with the local drag king group so there's also a lot of draglesque, butchfemme duets, stuff like that. our mc is always a drag king pretty much. most of our solo performers in the big quarterly shows we do are women in their 30s-40s, a lot of chubby milfs, the producer/founder of our troupe is involved in the midwest fatlesque scene, and though our troupe is mostly white, she invites in a lot of black solo performers in from other places in the midwest, which is cool.

personally, i'm pretty new but i have done a few solos at our smaller shows at the club; my first was cowboy improv with pink lingerie, then i did a sparkly drag act to perfume genius, and my most recent one was a blood cryptid to siouxie and the banshees. rn my costumes are pretty simple because i'm not talented at costume-making and don't have the money for expensive materials, but that's what the insp tag is for, i love seeing a fashion shoot and going "hmm there's some interesting vibes going on here...i wonder what this would look like in a striptease" lmao. especially since my act/persona is kinda of a creepy/scary vibe:)

[mduluozz]

Speaking of that Draglesque show I made a poster for! I went to see it last Saturday and oh boy… I fell in love with Nicky Jamm, one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen, ever! They’re so tall, statuesque, elegant, absolutely gorgeous, fantastic performer, super smart and just a very lovely and kind person. So I just had to make a portrait of them❤️

[kubotafinearts]

A lot of my art is political and influenced by my activism. So here's my visual portfolio of what I've done since 2019.

-CID mural project

-Draglesque"Racism is Very Contagious" and Last Performance Before the Wing Luke shut down for Covid that talked about the yellow peril racist violence against Asians during covid

-Speaking out for Rent Control with my in home care aide Ms. Geri

-Massage Parlor Outreach

#cidloveletters #winglukemuseum #celenedavisactivist

[qnewsau]

Archie Arsenic calls for more accessible queer spaces

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/archie-arsenic-calls-for-more-accessible-queer-spaces/

Archie Arsenic calls for more accessible queer spaces

In our monthly feature with local artists, Archie Arsenic answers questions about themselves, their craft and calls for more accessibility on the Brisbane scene. 

I would describe Archie Arsenic as….

Honestly, I don’t even know anymore, I’ve evolved so many times over the years. Draglesque and sideshow chameleon perhaps? 

My drag family and bio family….

Intertwine! They are my biggest supporters and advocates and we all share our knowledge and help each other grow both in drag and in our personal lives, I’m so grateful to have such a support network and wouldn’t be where I am today without them. 

Aurora Arsenic, Justine Deeva and MaMa Arsenic are my blood family and my drag family includes Dahlia Dyer, Asphyxia, Clint Taurus, Big Red Kara, Zelphia Mann and Trysten Sellwood! 

The first time I did drag was…

Queer Sister Smackdown Season 2 2016, my sister Aurora Arsenic was competing and I got done up in drag to support and was hooked instantly. 

I chose the name Archie Arsenic…

To tie in with my sister Aurora Arsenic. A Disney character starting with A (Archimedes from Sword in the Stone) + Arsenic 

The Brisbane scene needs…

More accessibility and accommodation for disabled artists and patrons. For me it’s seating – I cannot stand for more than a few minutes at a time so even waiting backstage to go on can be an ordeal for me, or dressing rooms that are far away/upstairs/have no seating. 

Disabled patrons also deserve to be able to attend shows, venues, community events but accessibility is a big issue. It has definitely improved lately and I hope it continues to do so. 

Read next: LGBTIQ+ people with disability – shifting the framework

RuPauls’ Drag Race is…

A double-edged sword. It’s wonderful that drag has become more mainstream and therefore has inspired many new drag artists to start as well as more gigs to go around. But it’s also set an expectation of elaborate and expensive costumes and that to be a queen you need to be a dancer who does tricks. 

Gender is…

Irrelevant to who you are as a person. 

The best thing a fan has done for me was…

I’ve had fan art made a fair few times and it always blows me away that someone was inspired by me to create art. 

The worst thing someone in the audience has done was…

The thing I hate most and it unfortunately happens semi-regularly is getting groped while I’m performing if I’m in with the crowd. A costume is not consent! 

My best skills as a performer are….

I’ve gotten a lot slower over the years as my health has declined so I can’t dance like I used to but my forte is definitely sideshow (fire and angle grinding) I’ve also had to learn the art of minimalism/stillness and still being able to captivate a crowd. 

One message I have for our community is…

There’s no LGB without the T. Transphobia in our community is rampant and it’s so disappointing to see. We are a minority as it is and excluding important and founding members of our community only breeds hate. We need to love and protect each other. 

The most important skill you can have as a drag artist is…

The ability to converse with all types of people in our community. It’s amazing what you learn from all different people but also being friendly and approachable builds a fan base, people may want to come out if they know you’re performing and word of mouth is a great way to get booked!

Something people don’t know about doing drag is…

It’s expensive! Even a simple outfit.  Wigs, makeup, lashes, tights, shoes, costumes etc. It takes time and money to build up a wardrobe so that’s why we outfit repeat, especially in the early days. 

My favourite performance ever was…

Performing on a pontoon in the middle of Circular Quay in Sydney while John Paul Young sang Love is in the Air with Philma Bocks, Art Simone, Karen from Finance, Maude Boat and Vonni. While fireworks were going off all around us. I’ll never forget that moment. 

The best experience I’ve had performing was…

Big Gay Day 2023! For two reasons. I got to share/teach angle grinding to my sister Aurora Arsenic and we performed it together for the first time! She’s now obsessed with sideshow and I couldn’t be prouder. I also got to feature alongside trans showgirl trailblazers and icons such as Malika, Yana Michelle and Kelly Roberts and it was an absolute privilege and honour. 

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by 🏳️‍🌈 ₳RCHIE ₳RSENIC 🏳️‍⚧️ (@archiearsenic)

Something people are surprised to learn about me is…

That I’m a classical violinist/violist and have been playing for 25 years! I’d love to combine my love of playing and drag/burlesque one day but am terrified. One day perhaps. 

The performer who deserves more attention is…

I am a massive fan of Gia Von She! Powerhouse vocalist and fantastic dancer, she’s only been in the scene for about a year and I cannot wait to see how she evolves. 

The drag performer I’d hate to live with would be…  

Probably Asphyxia, I’d want to steal their wigs and costumes all the time and I’m also obsessed with their paint. I’d just feel inadequate. 

In 2024 I hope….

I’ve taken some time off to recover from surgery and to focus on my health.  In 2024 I hope to be able to be more present in the community, attend more shows/ community events and see more of the talent we have in our city (all types, not just drag). I’m inspired by my peers and love seeing everyone grow!

You can follow Archie Arsenic on Instagram @archiearsenic 

Read next: Meet Mama Arsenic, Brisbane’s Beloved Drag Mother

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[libraford]

Drag has a focus on character and costume and typically involves a lipsynch. Parody is common.

Strip has a focus on reveal.

Heels dancers have a focus on physical strength and choreo.

Burlesque has the same focus of reveal as stripping, but it meets in the middle with drag because it leads more into the theatrics.

Clowning has a focus on character and costume, but incorporates comedy, sleight of hand, and physical humor.

These are all types of performance art that sometimes borrow stylistic choices from each other. Strippers can use heels dancing in their act. Drag personas can tell puns on stage. Draglesque is a thing.

They're friends.

"Stripping and drag are the same thing- you just change the gender of the person wearing the fishnets."

I wanna tear this mfer apart so bad.

THEY ARE BOTH RESPECTABLE PERFORMANCE DISCIPLINES! For which there may be overlapping elements or there might not be. There are male strippers! There are female drag artists! There are other-gendered performers of both of these styles!

Performance arts are a SPECTRUM!

[itsdarlingbitch]

Photo by Harvey Rabbit 

Darling Fitch on Patreon

[snorkmaidxn]

why are all my ideas for drag these elaborate draglesque type performances with storylines, and each of them would require a unique multilayered costume look and some specific props. I know it's a valid and fun way to do drag, but it's so expensive. why can't I have three wigs three dresses a bunch of accessories and then lipsynch to whatever

[viktordevonne]

#VicSin with #WhiteElephantBurlesque at #RockbarNYC on December 18 • $10 at 8:15 • #SecretSanta #improv #burlesque #boylesque #draglesque #nerdlesque — each performer gets a surprise song from each other; #nyc #gay #weburlesquenyc https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_MlvanXA1/?igshid=nihbs6nzqg5m

[dragkingsrule]

Ruby Tuesday, Munich-based drag king

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Artist links: website, LinkTree, Instagram, YouTube

[weburlesque]

@switchnplay - Save the date! Our next #MoxieShow is March 11th at @brandedsaloon & we can't wait to bring this cast together in support of Princess Janae Place! In their own words, "When trans folks are in need of housing, we are often turned away or face hate and violence while in the shelter system. In the Bronx in NYC, Princess Janae Place is striving to end that by providing a safer space for trans and GNC people to find a home support and comfort from folks in our community." We hope to see you there as we create queer magic & generate material support for the members of our community who need it most! ✨ #dragkings #dragqueens #burlesque #dragking #dragqueen #king #queen #brooklyndrag #queer #boys #gay #lgbt #performance #instagay #instaqueen #instadrag #nycdrag #dragnyc #dragkingshow #lgbtq #femme #burlesqueshow #variety #brandedsaloon #draglesque #switchnplay #thingstodoinbrooklyn #brooklynnightlife

[iamsergioblanco-blog]

Una de las principales figuras del Draglesque europeo es la gran Sheila Wolf. Hoy en El arte del Burlesque, con todos ustedes: @sheilawolf. #CuriosoChen #ElArteDelBurlesque 👨🏻💙 #Burlesque #Draglesque #Drag #Performance #Performer #Artist #Artista #Arte #Art #Blog #Bloguero #Blogger. (at Madrid, Spain)

[shadesofburlesque]

#Repost @switchnplay with @repostapp ・・・ Save the date--May 19! We are excited to announce @switchnplay's show for @coney.island.usa's burlesque at the beach series: CREATURE FEATURE! In this remounting of our sold-out #Vampshow, we bring you a terrifying and thrilling sequel celebrating queer monstrosity and B-movie inspired high camp. Starring @switchnplay's @k.james_switchnplay @wochanofficial @nyxnocturne & @zoeziegfeld with guests @misc_allaneousdomtop @seedyedie @sweetlorraineny & @bbheartburlyq! Thank you to @davidlawrencebyrd for this iconic flyer! #burlesque #performance #duo #switchnplay #dragkings #dragqueens #burlesque #dragking #dragqueen #king #queen #brooklyndrag #queer #boys #gay #lgbt #performance #instagay #instaqueen #instadrag #nycdrag #dragnyc #lgbtq #femme #burlesqueshow #variety #coneyisland #draglesque #switchnplay #thingstodoinbrooklyn #brooklynnightlife

[movementmeditations-blog]

Today’s movement meditation is on being unafraid to try something new. We live in a culture that invites domination through mastery and perfection. I wonder: how does this shrink the size and availability of spaces for learning and growing? Do we miss out on things that will bring us joy and transformation for fear of failure or looking bad? What if we said NOT TODAY to this fear a little more often and opened ourselves to trying new things? For my birthday this year, I did my first ever draglesque performance—under the name of Loosifur (tagline: hairy, slutty and blasphemous). I was joined by many friends who also performed for their first time!! I’ve been wanting to do something like this for years and it was so fucking fun & hilarious & I’m so grateful for all the people who joined me either to watch or to perform. I definitely plan to do this again and am already dreaming up my next performance. So, I’m wondering, what’s that thing you’ve wanted to do for years but your fears keep getting the best of you? How can your friends and community be a part of you facing that fear? #letloose #nottodaysatan #loosifur #drag #burlesque #draglesque #movementmeditation

[fifiduboisdq]

2-4-1 my my 4ever #mancrushmonday is hosting his own review at the slipper room exactly 1week away and tickets are on sale now so get em before there sell out!!! #Repost @harderburlesque (@get_repost) ・・・ Mondays are about to get a whole lot HARDER! I’m very excited to announce a new monthly show at @slipperroomnyc Chris Harder's Big Back Door🍑 Featuring a queerly curated night of burlesque and drag performers and hosted by me—the adult entertainer you can take home to mom AND dad. Breaking-in our NOVEMBER 13TH opening night are some of New York’s most glittery ‘n gritty of artists including… the Original King of Boylesque, TIGGER! Miss’d America 2015, @fifiduboisdq and the Triple Threat of Burlesque and star of “Nefertitty in Space,” @themaineattractionanders 🍑🍆🍒🍉🥕🌽🌶🥜🍊🍋 #burlesque #slipperroomnyc #boylesque #draglesque #instagay #instadrag #instagay #nyc #eastvillage #drag #burlylife #burlyq (at The Slipper Room NYC)